How many times have you tried to break that pesky bad habit and then went right back to it a few days later? I know habits are so difficult to break. In my previous post, I describe how to change a habit using the principles of the habit loop from the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. But how do we make changes stick? In this post, I will reveal three secrets to change a habit and make it last.
My story
Be sure to read my previous post on the habit loop here.
Several years ago, while recuperating from surgery at home, I listened to podcasts by Rick Warren, who started the Daniel Plan program at Saddleback Church. I did not realize these podcasts would transform my life. I tried many diets over the years to lose weight, but none of these plans were based on faith in God. In fact, the Daniel Plan is not a diet, but a lifestyle. It comprises five essentials to transform your health God’s way: faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends.
Certainly, the three secrets to change a habit and make it last are essential to both the habit loop and the Daniel Plan.
Devise a Plan
In his book, Charles Duhigg states besides determining your cue, routine and reward, additional steps are required to achieve success changing a habit.
The first one is—devise a plan. Write your plan on the bathroom mirror so you will see it every day.
He suggests this template: when I ____ (my cue), I will ____ (my new routine) because it provides me with _____ (my reward).
For example, here is the plan for modifying my habit loop to stop drinking wine at night. When I feel like drinking, I will practice yoga. Because it helps me to relax and feel better now and in the morning. To remember my plan, I kept the yoga mat spread out in the living room.
However, making a plan is also critical to success in the Daniel Plan. Concerning the essential of focus, Rick Warren states: “Make a plan. Stop focusing on what you don’t want and start focusing on what you do want.”
Believe change is possible
Second, Duhigg describes how the belief that change is possible contributes to success when changing a habit. He uses the example of Alcoholics Anonymous. Step 2 of the 12 Steps of AA: “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” Belief in a higher power, God or even the AA group contributes to the success of AA and similar groups. Practicing belief in something helps alcoholics believe that sobriety is possible. In addition, newcomers at AA meetings see others getting sober and think “it worked for that person, so maybe it can work for me.”
The cornerstone of the Daniel Plan is faith. The belief that God loves us and the Holy Spirit inside of us has the power to help us make positive and healthy changes in our lives. In addition, self-control is possible because we can do all things through God’s strength, not our own. (Philippians 4:13, NLT) (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)
Seek out community
Duhigg discovered change occurs more often in community with others. Again, he gives AA as an example of this. The mantra for newcomers is “30 meetings in 30 days.” Meetings supply support, accountability, companionship, and something to do instead of going to a bar. In addition, a newcomer is encouraged to find a sponsor, someone to talk to at any time of the day or night.
In the Daniel Plan, one of the most critical of the five essentials is friends. We need other people in our lives–sharing successes, confessing failures and having accountability. Being part of a group and spending time with others on the same journey to wellness is called “the secret sauce” of the Daniel Plan.
Summary
In conclusion, after changing our routine in the habit loop, consider these three secrets to change a habit and make it last. Devise a plan, believe change is possible, and seek other people in the same boat. Then we will gain power over our habits!
Final thoughts
It was interesting to note that Duhigg used Saddleback Church as an example of how the power of habit changes societies. He recounts how Saddleback went from a group of seven people meeting in Rick and Kay Warren’s living room to fourteen U.S. and four international campuses. How did they do it? One reason was their philosophy of the social community of small groups. And replacing bad habits with good habits like daily quiet time, prayer, and tithing.
Reference
Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2012.
